SCHOOLBOY Ciaran Haggerty has a loyal supporter in the retired four-time IndyCar series champion Dario Franchitti, and today the 17-year-old will race at Knockhill knowing his hero is watching him from the crowd.

RACING legend Dario Franchitti will today cheer on the latest star to speed out of Scotland's motor racing academy.

The four-time IndyCar series champ is a loyal supporter of schoolboy racer Ciaran Haggerty, 17, from Johnstone, who is tipped to follow in his tracks.

Franchitti, 40, who recently retired after a horror crash, will join the crowds at Knockhill to watch the youngster.

Ciaran, who has been karting since he was 10, is the latest talented hopeful to emerge from the same small track that helped hone the skills of Franchitti and racing superstars David Coulthard and Allan McNish.

Based at Larkhall, Lanarkshire, the West of Scotland Kart Club (WSKC) have been the starting grid for many of the world’s most successful motorsport drivers.

Their volunteer staff have helped hundreds of determined amateurs speed through the ranks of club racing to reach the high-octane world of international competition.

Mercedes racer Paul di Resta, Daytona champ Ryan Dalziel and F1 test driver Susie Wolff have all raced at the circuit, while rally legend the late Colin McRae was a member.

And though they have gone on to find worldwide success, the racing stars take time to encourage the next generation of young drivers at WSKC – with Ciaran now at pole position among them. Franchitti even helped the teenager to buy a new car.

Former club champion Iain Brown, 35, who is a WSKC committee member, says local access to global motorsport talent is the key to inspiring up-and-coming drivers.

He said: “I can remember the first time my dad took me to watch karting at Larkhall.

“Dario is one of my racing heroes. He wore a distinctive Italian-striped helmet. When I got my first kart for Christmas, my dad had bought it from Dario’s father George. I ended up racing with his younger brother Marino in karts and in Formula Vauxhall with Ryan Dalziel.

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Dario Franchitti won the IndyCar series four times

“Although we were competing against each other, when we were down south, the Scots on tour helped each other out off the track and had lots of great times.”

Iain, who now runs his own circuit, Cambuslang Karting near Glasgow, joined the WSKC at 11 and raced at various levels for the next 21 years.

He inherited a love of motorsport from his dad Tom, who was so determined to race as a young man that he built himself a racing kart when he couldn’t afford to buy one.

Iain said: “My mum even bought dad a kart as a wedding present and they went racing on honeymoon.

“Families would go racing together at weekends and back to work on a Monday. That same spirit is still in racing now and I suppose it was inevitable that I was inspired to race. I was at tracks most weekends.

“My mum and sister were very supportive and sacrificed a huge amount for me to go racing. I’ve been fortunate to develop it into a full-time business, helping others to enjoy the sport, but I would love to get back out on the track myself at some point.”

Iain’s son has also picked up the racing bug. Finlay has been driving since the age of four.

Iain said: “Finlay could identify most makes and models on the road from a young age.

“I gave him an opportunity to drive at four and he has built up his confidence, having the odd practice every couple of weeks.

“He still enjoys other sports like swimming, football and gymnastics and, if there’s a day when he can’t be bothered driving, then we don’t go. But when he’s hungry for it, we have great fun with other kids and dads.”

Former karter Rory Bryant, who is now national development officer at Scottish Motor Sports, believes clubs such as WSKC deserve more recognition for their achievements.

He said: “For a small nation, Scotland has punched well above its weight in the world of motorsport.

“We have an unrivalled track record of success. We’re one of only five countries in the world to have produced world champions on two, three and four wheels among other significant achievements. However, these achievements often go unnoticed. I’d like to see motorsport at the heart of the Scottish sporting landscape.”

Ryan Dalziel hailed the Larkhall track, saying: “I don’t believe there is another go-karting club anywhere else in the world that has produced more top-level racing drivers.

“When you look back over the history of the WSKC, it’s mind-blowing that this self-sustained club has been able to accomplish champions year after year.

“The club keep kids very grounded and have given us all the tools to grow as drivers and be able to move on but never forget where we came from.

“Ciaran Haggerty has become that next part of history and I couldn’t be more proud.”

Ciaran said: “ The support from Ryan and Dario has been immense.

“Both have come to watch me race and it inspires me to do well.

“Getting the chance to show drivers like that what I can do is amazing.”